B29 Over Exposed - crash site

Date of visit 09/09/2025

what3words: ///starters.spilling.pythons

Today's walk was a bit different. We don't often hike, but we had decided while in The Peaks that we would like to visit this historical site.

The B29 Over Exposed was an American Superfortress aircraft which crashed in poor weather on November 3rd 1948, whilst flying to Burtonwood near Warrington, with the loss of all 13 on board. The debris from the crash was spread over a large area, and much of it still lays on the moors to this day, as a testament and shrine to those that died.

I never cease to be amazed by the young lad we call Little One. As a non-verbal child, with little understanding of what we are doing, he is a pleasure to take out. He rarely gets upset or stressed when we go out, and in fairness to us, we normally looks for things to do that we feel he will like and enjoy.

With that said, sometimes we do things that are for us, in the hope that he will enjoy too - such was the case with this latest walk, to the crash site of the B29 Over Exposed.

We started the walk by parking up at the Snake Pass summit and taking the Pennine Way signs for a distance, before heading for the Higher Stones trig point. The wreckage of the plane is just below the trig point.

Probably the first thing that should be said, is that the general advice is to make sure you feel comfortable doing this walk and to have in mind how quickly the weather and visibility can change. We tackled the walk on a bright, clear day. There were sections where the wind picked up and areas underfoot which were quite wet, but if you come prepared this can be a good walk  - the right clothing and footwear are paramount.

We walked Little One on his wrist strap most of the way. This was partly because the ground can be very uneven in places and also so I could guide him around the boggiest areas and round the largest stones in the path.